Re: [SPAM:9.6] Should I block Experian/Free Credit Report

[Christian Brel <br...@copperproductions.co.uk>]

On Fri, 22 Jan 2010 13:58:34 -0800
Marc Perkel <ma...@perkel.com> wrote:

> Generally I'm paid to protect my customers from fraud scams. Does
> that include fraud scams that are advertised on TV? The Experian/Free
> Credit Report is such a scam and I was personally ripped off by them
> and I'm thinking about blocking their email. What they do isn't any
> different than a 419 nigerian scam.
> 
> Thoughts?
> 
> 


Experian, the 'free' trial that takes your credit card details and all
attempts to cancel still sees them trying to debit the card.
Ironically, in the UK you can get a copy of your credit report from
Experian by post for £2 without providing any card details. It's been
this way since the days they were CCN Systems. For a company managing
personal financial data their desire to debit cards without
authorisation surprised me, and the follow up spam they kick out after
you cancel is something else.

Personally I would class them as a data abuser and I have them blocked
in a private dnsbl that I have extended to 'cheetah' as well, which I
believe is their 'esp'.

FWIW I have a couple of 'Virgin' PAYG Mastercards which I keep active
for such places that require valid card details. These are very
effective for making sure any mainsleaze scammers get nothing in return
for what they purport to offer for free.